Jan Risher took the long way to get from Mississippi to Louisiana with stops in between in Slovakia, Mexica, China, Burkina Faso and more than 40 other countries. Since moving to Louisiana, she has been a Sunday columnist for The Daily Advertiser and has written a column every single Sunday since 2002.

Looking to the Stars from Old Algiers and Other Long Stories Short is the collection of columns written over 15 years. Arranged in chronological order, the collection creates a narrative of one woman’s aim to build her family, build up her community and weave the stories and lessons learned from the past into the present.

From her family’s move to Louisiana, adoption of a daughter from China, covering Hurricane Katrina, travels near and far, author Jan Risher attempts, sometimes failing and sometimes succeeding, to do her small part to make the world a better place.
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Jan Risher is an award-winning journalist and investigative reporter. She was managing editor of The Times of Acadiana. Before and after her time as a full-time journalist, she was an English teacher. She has taught English near and far, in its most basic and most lyrical forms. She continues her career as a freelance writer and now owns Shift Key, a content marketing and public relations firm. She, her husband and their two daughters have made their home on the banks of the Vermilion River.

Partly memoir, partly newspaper column articles, this was a delightful read from the onset. Jan Risher has a way of putting you at ease as you read the accounts of her travels and family life. She has a way of making even the mundane interesting. I bookmarked several pages that I wanted to read again.

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The book is divided into short segments chronicling moments from her family life as well as her work as a journalist. I especially enjoyed the columns when she talks about raising her daughters, from the adoption of a little girl (Piper) from China and the challenges and realities she faced when she was covering the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

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I would have loved to have had a paper copy of this book to keep and read over again (as opposed to a digital copy).

Title and author: Journeys of a Lifetime, Second Edition: 500 of the World’s Greatest Trips by National Geographic, George Stone

Publisher: National Geographic

Date published: October 23, 2018

Pages: 416

Genre: Travel, reference, pictorial, guidebook

DESCRIPTION:

Featuring 120 new destinations, this best-selling inspirational travel guide reveals 500 celebrated and lesser-known destinations around the globe, from ocean cruises in Antarctica to horse treks in the Andes. Completely revised and updated for its 10th anniversary.

Compiled from the favorite trips of National Geographic’s legendary travel writers, this fully updated, 10th anniversary edition of Journeys of a Lifetime spans the globe to highlight the best of the world’s most celebrated and lesser-known sojourns. Offering a diverse array of possibilities, every continent and possible form of transport is covered, illustrated with glorious color photographs. With 16 new pages; new destinations like Cartegena, Colombia; and updated information throughout, this timely new edition is the perfect resource for travelers who crave adventurous trips–from trekking the heights of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania to mountain biking in Transylvania–and those searching for more specific experiences (the world’s top small cruises, hot new museums around the world, secrets for following in the footsteps of film and TV heroes, and more). Each chapter features stunning photography, full-color maps, and practical tips, including how to get there, when to visit, and how to make the most of your journey.

Informative and inspiring, this luxurious volume is a lifelong resource that readers will treasure for years to come.

REVIEW: This six pound reference book is a veritable guide to pretty much anyplace you want to explore and how you want to do it. Not everyone travels the same way or wants to do the same thing so this book breaks down trips and destinations into sections that will appeal to different travelers.

Each page highlights a destination with a brief (not exhaustive) summary, advice about when to go, how long, when to plan, inside information and a list of websites to visit for more information. There is also a small map with tidbits of information on the side panel. Naturally, photographs fill the book.

Intrepid Hiker? Chapter 4 – Put on your hiking books and follow some of these trails (both city and wilderness trips)!

Vermont, the Appalachian Trail (149)

Utah, Paria Canyon (153)

Hawai’i, The Kalalau Trail (page 157)

As a world traveler and photographer, I’ve been to many of the places I read about in the book. Because there are so many destinations featured in this guide, there isn’t really a lot of information per subject. That’s where you have fun doing your own research! I’ve already tagged a few pages of destinations I would like to visit!

I highly recommend this guide for any intrepid (or non-intrepid) explorer who wants to explore places both far flung or closer to home.

In a war-torn galaxy, Jazrene Vallo, the supreme spiritual leader of the Marium Kahnet, is close to fulfilling her divine destiny: refashion the Order as a beacon of light. But her plans for the sisterhood to become the official ambassadors of peace are compromised when she is forced to send mercenaries to capture rogue elements of the sisterhood seeking revenge against those responsible for murdering their families. Failure to capture them will bring an irreversible blemish upon the sisterhood. Unbeknownst to her, it may be too late to stop them.

After fifteen years of methodical planning and burrowing into the highly classified Leviathan project, the cadre of vengeful sisters are ready to execute their mission. Their goal: to destroy the Stadageos, vast military testing and bio-engineering bases where the twisted machinations of fallen creation formed the ungodly fierce races of Leviathans. Their failure will release death and destruction on a scale not experienced since the fall of creation. But even if they succeed, not all of them will survive.

Led by Victoria and Balese, the rogue sisters of the Marium Kahnet have successfully completed their life-long quest for revenge against the sorcerer’s guild. Now a new mission has begun, one of survival, as their enemies seek their lives with a vengeance. As planned, the sisters who managed to survive the destruction of the testing facilities have joined their adopted family’s nefarious criminal organizations, plotting to escape with detailed plans of the Leviathan project to justify their actions to their home world of Ramah. But they are unaware they are being hunted by elite mercenaries hired by the sisterhood.

It is a day of prophecy and celebration when Jazrene Vallo accomplishes her ordained task to refashion the Marium Kahnet, and witnesses them finally becoming representatives in the Grand Assembly of the Mantis Alliance. But the victory is soiled by reports of a faction of wayward sisters joining a necromancer Order, the Saurcine.

​The rebels plan to bring forth the Krevomax, the seed of the Tisrad Dragon, to defeat the Mantis Alliance. To combat this new evil threat, in Jazrene Vallo’s last act as supreme leader, she activates the sisterhood’s elite warriors, the Criss Lumbra. Their mission: destroy the spawn of the Tisrad Dragon. Should they fail, it will mean the end of the sisterhood and all peace in the universe.

​R. J. Amezcua was born and raised in Silicon Valley, and is happily married to Sheryl. As a young boy, one of his favorite TV shows was Lost in Space. Being an entrepreneur and visionary by nature, he has begun his journey as an author and writer. Using his love for science fiction, he created the epic saga “Mantis Force,” which encompasses a vast universe.

A great book can launch your business into the stratosphere. Unfortunately, most self-published business books rank somewhere between “meh” and “flaming pile of crap.” But your book doesn’t have to suck!

In “Don’t Write a Crappy Book,” editor and entrepreneur James Ranson unpacks the most common–and toxic–mistakes that first-time nonfiction authors make. Peppered with wisdom from a panel of industry experts, this book debunks the dangerous myths that can torpedo your text and offers clear, practical guidance for writing a book you’re proud of. This is the resource for the aspiring authorpreneur who wants to write and publish a book with minimum hassle and maximum results.

This book will teach you:

– How a self-published book can make or break your business (and the THREE factors that determine which it does)
– The biggest blind spots no one tells authors about (and how to look for them BEFORE it’s too late)
– How to write a first book that will get positive reviews on Amazon (and why that’s a better goal than becoming a bestseller)
– When writing a business book is the right move for you (and when you should NEVER write one)
– How to self-publish on Amazon to actually get good results for your business (a lot of it happens before you even start writing!)
– What NOT to do when you’re looking for an editor (and how to find a great one)
– Why trying to write and publish a book in 90 days or less is a recipe for disaster (and why no one tells you that!)
– How to avoid do-overs, sunk costs, and other self-publishing headaches (and how to get out of them if they sneak up on you)

Stay out of the crap pile! Discover the secrets to creating a highly valuable book that will expand your influence and grow your business for years to come. ​

​James Ranson, The Master Wordsmith(TM), is a Wall-Street-Journal-bestselling editor, ghostwriter and book coach who has helped over 200 consultants, coaches, speakers and other thought leaders create high-quality books. Clients of his have gone on to sell thousands of books, receive book deals from publishing houses, and be featured in regional and national media outlets. In addition to his own clients, James is a writer and book doctor for Thanet House Books, and is on recommended professional lists for Scribe Media(formerly Book in a Box), My Word Publishing, BrightFlame Books and Authors Unite. His second book, Don’t Write A Crappy Book!, will be published on October 1, 2018. A graduate of Carnegie Mellon University, James lives in Atlanta, GA, with his fiancée and a very needy cat.

It’s finally Friday, and Alycat is excited to go on a field trip with her friends. But when she doesn’t have anyone to sit with on the bus, Alycat feels left out. Can she use her creativity and imagination to help everyone feel included?
​Alycat and the Friendship Friday will teach readers that making new friends isn’t as scary as you might think.
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​Alysson Foti Bourque earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and a Juris Doctor degree from the Southern University Law Center. After practicing law for six years, she traded in writing trial briefs for writing children’s books. She enjoys public speaking opportunities at schools, conferences, and festivals nationwide. She hopes to inspire people of all ages to follow their dreams and believe in themselves. Currently, she resides in Sunset, Louisiana with her husband and two children.

Book Title: Joy to You and Me (at Work!) by Amy ThorntonCategory: Adult Non-Fiction, 179 pagesGenre: Self-help, BusinessPublisher: Tell-Tale Publishing Group, LLCRelease date: June 5, 2018Tour dates: Oct 1 to 19, 2018Content Rating: PG (This book is for ages 16+, so there is the occasional “damn”, “hell”, and “ass” thrown in as far as language, but nothing worse than that.)

Book Description:

Are you one of the 48% of employees worldwide who don’t like their jobs? Do you feel constantly stressed at the office? Or maybe you’re just feeling “blah” about your job and want to bring some life back into your workplace. If you talk to anyone about their careers or jobs these days, most of the time you won’t hear positive stories or excitement. You’ll probably hear words like “busy”, “stressed”, “exhausting”, and “mind-numbing.” And with the good old 40 hour workweek becoming a distant memory for many of us, this reality is just plain sad.

Joy to You and Me (At Work!) helps turn these situations around by giving the reader easy tips they can implement quickly to start making a positive difference in the workplace. Being joyful isn’t just a “fluffy-cutesy-nice” thing to do each day – it actually increases productivity and is good for any company or organization. The book helps anyone learn how to:

This fun, easy-to-read guide shows people of all ages and personalities how to make a difference immediately to make not only themselves happier, but to spread that happiness throughout the workplace – and beyond!

By sharing stories from the author’s 25+ years of making a joyful difference in the workplace and examples from truly kick-ass companies, Joy to You and Me (At Work!) is a life changing, fun read for anyone who wants to improve their work life.
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Amy Thornton Shankland, GPC, has been bringing joy to her workplaces for over 25 years thanks to her innate enthusiasm. She is a former Dale Carnegie instructor, has been a grant professional for 17 years, is a former columnist for the Noblesville Daily Times, and is a current board member of Noblesville Main Street.

Book Title: A Life By Design (The Italian Family Series) by Lucy AppadooCategory: Adult Fiction, 211 pagesGenre: 20th Century Historical Romance, coming of age story set in Milan, ItalyPublisher: Self-publishedRelease date: Aug 24, 2018Format available for review: ebook (mobi, PDF, ePub)Tour dates: Sept 24 to Oct 12, 2018Content Rating: PG-13 + M

Book Description:

When 20-year-old Elena Allegro leaves the Italian village of Laurino to study Fashion Design in Milan, she’s certain her dreams are about to come true. Despite her father’s warnings that risk comes with her newfound freedom, she loves her studies and develops a love interest with Francesco, the handsome young entrepreneur who offers her a part-time job in a Milan clothing store.

It seems like an idyllic situation—until a stalker targets Elena, tormenting her with mind games and threatening her safety. In the face of escalating danger to herself and to Francesco, Elena must fight for her freedom, her love, and her survival.

Lucy is an author of romantic suspense, historical fiction/coming of age, short story thrillers, and non-fiction books. She is also a Registered Counsellor/Wellness Coach, and works as a Rehabilitation Counsellor for the Australian Government.

Lucy enjoys reading romantic suspense, romance, thrillers, crime novels, family/historical drama, and sagas. She has enjoyed travelling to exotic places such as Madrid, Mauritius, and Italy, and draws on these experiences in her creative writing.

Lucy’s interests include meditation, exercising, journal writing, reading fiction and nonfiction texts about writing, coaching, and counselling, ongoing professional development, spending time with her husband and two daughters, and socialising with friends and family.

The next time you’re out in public, take a moment to look around you. Each and every person you see holds wisdom in their pockets–pieces of gold they’ve accumulated as they walked their own unique life journey.

Within these pages, Marilyn shares some of the many pieces of gold she has received over her decade-long career. They have been offered to her during interviews, through random encounters and while facing difficult challenges. The most important? We are each unique and exactly who we are meant to be.

Are you ready to dig for gold? All you need to do is be brave, be present in the moment and be open to the possibilities–then start a conversation.

Praise for The Wisdom of Listening:

“Every life has a story and, no matter our background, we share similar hopes, dreams and fears. This book not only gives you insight into the varied lives of its subjects but, through Marilyn’s reflections, shows how we each walk a similar spiritual path.”– Robbin Whachell, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of The Bahamas Weekly

“Marilyn shows us, through her compassionate and incisive interviews, how to grasp and link those golden moments, like sparkling prisms of light, into an animated and profound acceptance of ourselves, the people we encounter, the relationships we build, and the dreams that will set us free.”– Gabriella Contestabile, Author, Founder of Su Misura Sensory Journeys

“I was reminded we are collectively each walking our own paths, but often experience similar emotions, feelings, obstacles, challenges, triumphs, rewards and successes. We all learn as we go and we all become wiser as time passes. This is humanity. The diversity in each of us as a whole is awesome.”– RozeMerie Cuevas, Co-Founder and Designer at JAC by Jacqueline Conoir

Marilyn R. Wilson is a freelance writer, published author and speaker with a passion for interviewing. Her career as a writer began in an unusual way: by answering a Craigslist ad from a NYC magazine. The world shifted when she conducted her first interview—she had found her passion.

Since 2006, she has interviewed over a hundred and fifty people from around the globe, co-owned a local magazine, wrote freelance for others, worked as an editor, published two books and provided author support for her publisher. Her goal as an author — to give wings to the stories of others and to pay forward some of the many “pieces of gold” received during interviews – bits of wisdom that have changed her life. ​

Marilyn has put together a treasure trove of inspiring “pieces of gold” or bits of wisdom she has acquired through years of interviewing and listening to others. She has generously passed these on to her readers in her volume “The Wisdom of Listening”.

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She begins her book with her own story. I am acquainted with Marilyn, having read her first book as well as through our connections on social media. I’ve always been curious to learn more about her work as an author and fashionista and was delighted to read her story.

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Her “pieces of gold” are easily read and absorbed because her book is separated into little chapters that you can read in a few minutes. At the end of each chapter she leaves us with an inspirational quote.

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Most of what we find in Marilyn’s book is practical wisdom such as building a good support team, taking time for yourself, living one day at a time and being fully present and focused in the the moment.

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I really enjoyed reading each chapter and am thinking of the different ways I can apply what I’ve learned.

​In January of 2014, Joshua Tree’s beloved village herbalist, Jenny Q. suddenly became seriously ill and rapidly descended into a coma with slender chance of survival. The shock of this news initiated an overwhelming outpouring of love, wit, service, practical magic and sharing of spiritual wisdom between those in her intimate desert community. Indeed it seemed that the entire group became one in their desperate effort and race against the clock to save her life.

While the words of others in the community tell the story in this book, it is Jenny’s own insightful writings that provide a fascinating window into a range of rare experiences. She gives us a unique glimpse into the mysterious worlds encountered while in a coma, the absolute alteration of losing one’s legs, the subtle venom of PTSD, the nightmare of withdrawal from prescription opiates, and the maddening frustration of having to re-learn basic skills previously taken for granted such as the ability to walk.

Jenny Q was born in Southern California to Palestinian immigrants. Her love of herbs began in her teens while on the road following the Grateful Dead. After exploring many heart homes, she set her roots in Joshua Tree, California, where she opened Grateful Desert, the local apothecary. Joyously sharing her life with her tight-knit desert community, Jenny lives with her beloveds~ Yazzy, her daughter and Myshkin, her wife.

Penelope Grace, usually forgotten under the shadow of her twin sister’s perfection, tries her hardest to hide her freakish ability to see into anyone’s soul.

Until she senses an unusual energy like a human-shaped void in the universe. When Penny investigates the source, she gets tossed through a crack in time along with the cute boy next door. The Void follows them through history, increasing the dangers as if testing Penny. But what is it testing for? And why does it claim to know her better than even she knows herself? Even as Penny searches for answers, she must fight to survive the tragedies of both the past and future in order to get back home.
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​Aspen Bassett works at a library, telling stories and suggesting books. When she’s not working, she’s usually sipping hot cocoa and wondering what would happen if she had superpowers. She’s been published in multiple anthologies including Oomph: A Little Super Goes a Long Way and Inaccurate Realities.

Aspen grew up learning about chakras and auras and the true power of imagination which slips into her writing whether she intend it to or not. In college, when she wasn’t busy working on her degree in Creative Writing, Aspen also got her certificate in Women’s Meditation (basically general energy work). Now, she’s working toward a diploma in Integrated Healing Arts with a certificate in Hypnotherapy.